Improved device for inserting the gores of shoes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J. MORRISON HUNTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVED DEVICE FOR INSERTING THE GRES OF SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. 38,168, dated April 14, 1863.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, J. M. HUNTER, ot' the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented a new and improved method ot' inserting the elastic gores of shoes, bootees, Src.; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description there of, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciication, which are fully described herein, and in which similar letters indicate similar partis` throughout the figures.

The chief object of my invention is to so insert the elastic gore as to dispense with the necessity of sewing together the uppenleather and said gore, whereby the gore may be readily removed when worn out, to be replaced by a new piece; and it also enables me to furnish a support to the ankle, preventing too much lateral flexion.

Of the various fastenings which have been devised for shoes, none, probably, are so convenient, so free from objection, and so well adapted to the purpose as the elastic gore of india-rubber fabric inserted at the sides, and commonly known as .fCongress boots.77 This elastic gore, as is well known, sometimes be comes extended, often before the shoe is otherwise worn out, and it would be desirable to replace it; but with the present method of attaching it by sewing it fast to the upperleather when the shoe is made, it cannot be replaced, except with difficulty, and at too much cost for a shoe partly worn. I attach it by means of a clamp formed of .strips of metal or its equivalent, and these strips have also the advantage that they act as splints, affording support to the ankle-joint, and preventing too much lateral flexiona source of much inconvenience to those who, as is popularly expressed, have weak ankles.7

My construction is as follows: Figure l exhibits a side View or elevation of a gaiter-boot to which the elastic gore is affixed by my method. Fig. 2 shows the back or inner pair of strips of metal of which the clamp is composed Fig. 4, the front or outer pair of strips. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the inner and outer strips when in place; and Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through said plates, showing the manner in which they may be hinged together at the bottom part of the gore.

It is designed that the curve or opening out of the clamp should be that of the desired form ot' the gore. The gore a is to be cut of such size and shape that it will extend about half across the strips, as shown in dotted line in Fig. 1, and the leather of the boot being cut away to the same size, the surface ot' the two will be iiush. The inner pair of strips, b, is then to be put in due position on the inside of the boot, corresponding with that shown as for the outer strips, c. That plate is then to be put on and the two secured together, either by eyelets through corresponding holes, d, in each, or by screws and nuts. The screw or eyelet at e forms the hin gejoint, upon which the clamp may move to conform to the extensions and contractions of the gore. The edges of the leather and of the gorepiece are thus firmly held within the clamp able leather may be placed on the inside, asl

at f, to protect the foot from abrasion.

I claim- Axin g the elastic gore by means of a clamp of metal or equivalent device, whereby the said gore may be taken out and replaced, substantially as set forth.

J. MORRISON HUNTER.

Witnesses PETER COOKE, C. MCKEE. 

